I’ve come across a few professionals who generate some kind of “Working with me” document to distribute to new teams. The reasons vary, but as someone with a new team – some early their career, I thought it might be an interesting, if not introspective exercise to help everyone feel more confident and comfortable collaborating with the new guy.
Here’s what I came up with:
A User’s Guide to Working with Josh
First Edition
Some of my philosophies and perspectives:
Servant Leadership. My first priority is always to my team. How can I support them? How can I reduce friction so they can better excel with their craft? I believe that by doing this, we collectively will provide better work for the organization, project / product, and client.
Always approachable. You are never bothering me. I’d rather be interrupted than you spin your wheels. If I need time or can’t talk now, I’ll tell you, but most of the time, I can make the time.
No micromanaging. If we’ve talked about it, I trust you’re going to do what you said you would do by the time you said you’d do it – and if that changes, you’ll let me know. If I have to chase after you, it’s an erosion of that trust.
Lead with empathy. I may have seen that preventable mistake a number of times before, but it might be the first time you are experiencing it. We’re going to talk through it so you can avoid it next time, but I’m not judging you for not knowing what I know mostly because I was once that person making that mistake.
“Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.”
― Steven Wright
Nobody is perfect. We are all a work in progress, myself included. Balls get dropped, deadlines get missed. Imperfection is inevitable. As your career progresses, the level of difficulty increases, so there are always new mistakes to be made. These mistakes help shape what makes you unique and talented. But learn from them – definitely don’t make them over and over.
“Style is the stuff you get wrong.”
— Neil Gaiman
No assholes. I’m not impressed by how great you are solo if you can’t function well as part of a team. I’d gladly work with a less-skilled professional that tries hard and plays well with others over a “ninja” who can work twice as fast but is a team diva.
Over communicate. I’d rather know too much, than not enough.
Communication Methods. I’m always good with whatever is best for the need: Quick question: Chat. Longer, more detailed information: Email. Just make sure actions and decisions are captured.
One to Many. I prefer a single accountable person for an action, but multiple redundancies of people who can perform them. A project shouldn’t be held-up because the dependencies have a bus factor of “1”. Two people pointing at each other saying they thought the other would do it is also bad. Own it!
Adequate Polymath. I am very, very good at many, many things. I am not great at any one thing. That comes from always learning and always willing to pitch in, no matter the job. So, predictably, if you think “that’s not my job” is a defensible position, we’re not going to get on very well.
Slow or fast talker. I’ll sometimes take a beat to process my words when trying to be contemplative and thoughtful. Then talk a bit measured. When I’m excited and passionate, I’ll talk fast, verbose, and sometimes be a bit repetitive. There is no middle gear most of the time. Sorry about that.
One more question. My line of questioning is rarely because of doubt, but because by going one more question deeper I can better understand your perspective and we both may come away with a better understanding of the solution.
Introverted Extrovert. When I’m on, I’m on, but will often need to quietly decompress if it’s been an active day with a lot of talking (e.g.: most days). Social activities are very hit or miss. Just know I’m not avoiding anyone or upset with anyone if I’m parked quietly somewhere.
Favor. Soccer, nerdy topics, and pop culture knowledge will in fact curry favor with me. That’s just science.
Kidding. The work and the craft are serious, I am not. If I’m spending time with people doing great work, we should all have fun doing it. It helps morale, energy, and improves communication to keep things loose and humorous. Dour “all business” people should avoid me.
Optimism. I’ve somehow held onto it and it’s led me to accomplish things others thought impossible. Dreamers make them happen. Realists settle. Therefore, your crazy, ambitious thing might be just what is needed. I’m happy to listen to it, share that enthusiasm, and give it proper consideration.
Data + Experience. I love data and a strong case, but data isn’t everything. Experience helps see that data at different angles. Too much of one or the other is bad. Finding the right balance is always a noble pursuit.
Notes. I’m a copious note-taker. Some I’ll never read again, but the act of typing or scribbling them down somewhere helps me organize and recall later. I am not checking email or shopping online when we’re having a conversation.
Hello World. Is terrible. I was never good at learning something without stakes, so it’s always best to frame a discussion with me around real-world applications over hypotheticals. That’s how I learned to code: Building thething, not a practice thing.
Process. I believe in the right amount of process given the skills and needs of the team and the project. I’ve shipped things created on a bar napkin because that was enough fidelity to get the team aligned. Unless safety and life are at stake, process for process sake is just middle management trying for job security.
Solutions. Always have a suggestion to an issue. If you come to me without some idea about a resolution, you’re just complaining.
Perspective. Similarly, if you present multiple recommendations and ask a stakeholder “what they think?” or “which one?” — not great. Have a defensible point of view of your recommendation. “I recommend option ‘B’ because…”
Presenting. Please do not read the slides word-for-word when presenting. Seriously. Know I am mentally willing the screen to short circuit when this happens.
No ego. You or me. The best idea wins, not the biggest title. I have zero issue if someone tramples something I’ve done if it’s the better solution. We’re all individual packages of experiences, bias, fears, instincts, and wisdom. No two configurations are the same; the one with the better solve isn’t always tied to seniority.
Got your back. I will always defend you for taking action in pursuit of the right thing. I’ve always believed in “ask forgivness” instead of waiting with inaction or to be told what to do. It’s not lost on me that I’m now the one needing to do the forgiving at times.
Everyone needs help — and luck. I am as much the product of hard work and creating opportunity as I am sheer luck and having been given opportunity and mentorship by other amazing professionals over the course of my career. I try to never forget that and will try to pay that forward.
If you’re looking to better connect to the people you work with or are experiencing a challenge relating to a colleague, some version of this may be something to try out.
Counter-point: It may have been a really bad idea and I just traumatized a bunch of my new coworkers.
Let's find out.
(See “Nobody’s Perfect” above.)
Thanks for reading!
Recently
Screen: “Agatha All Along” (Disney+). Don’t know if the WandaVision spin-off will be any good, but I could watch Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza in anything wild and weird.
Music: “Luck and Strange” by David Gilmour. A driving force behind one of the biggest bands of all time: Pink Floyd, he’s released another solo album. Also, I’m going to see him on one of his few U.S. tour dates, completing seeing all of the remaining Pink Floyd alumni over the past 3 years.
Purchase: “Surviving Purely Out of Spite” (Lucy Jaynes) - The Mrs. loves her holiday wear, so I got her this fun Spooky Season shirt as we joke that her lame super power is that she’s un-killable, but easily gets sick.